2 JANUARY 1909, Page 10

The New York correspondent of the Times has some interesting

comments on the progress of the Tariff Inquiry. He points out that hitherto the manufacturers have usually had it pretty much their own way at these inquiries. This, ho observes, will not be the ease with the Tariff Bill of 1909, "The strongest evidence indicative of the necessity of revising the schedules has come either voluntarily from witnesses like Mr. Carnegie, who still call themselves Protectionists, or from admissions wrung from witnesses like Judge Gary, Mr. Schwab, and others, who have been compelled to admit that many of the greater industries of the country could prosper in spite of a reduction of duty, and would not be destroyed should their products be transferred to the free list." It is understood that Mr. Taft will call for an extra Session to complete the work of revision; but after the Bill has finally passed the House it has still to run the gauntlet of the Senate, with the result that its ultimate form will probably be in the nature of a compromise arrived at by a joint Committee of both Houses.